Rubenstein School Research Emphasis inLandscape Analysis and Conservation

Faculty, students, and staff pursue a holistic approach to understanding and managing the natural and working landscape. This is an interdisciplinary research area that considers conservation of natural habitats and their biodiversity, people's connection to and impact on the environment, and sustainability. There is an emphasis on an application of the work with community partners. Some projects include developing strategies for engaging communities and citizens in decision-making, exploring innovative land use options, and ecological planning for conservation and preservation of natural areas, reserves, protected ecosystems, and the more natural components of our human influenced landscapes.

Faculty Research Program Descriptions

Jeffrey Hughes: Forest ecology, communities and ecosystems

Jeffrey serves as an advisor for students in the UVM graduate-level Field Naturalist program and Ecological Planning curriculum, and is director of the Field Naturalist program. His interests are in environmental problem solving and forestry, but two research interests predominate: ecosystem responses to events that upset the ecological status quo and dynamics of ecotones, especially stream corridors and roads. For more information, visit Jeffrey's profile.

Matt's research interests focus on ecological leadership and explore how the wisdom of nature can inform leadership practices and structures. His research questions consider how to align the way we think, learn, and lead with the way nature works, how leadership practices can create optimal conditions for the full scale of life to thrive, and how to unlearn dominant and colonial patterns of leadership that are perpetuated in many well-meaning change-making initiatives. During his recent sabbatical, Matt used ethnographic research methods to engage with diverse initiatives in sustainability leadership and transformational learning. He interviewed thought leaders and practitioners who are using unique approaches, systems, and practices to foster a more just and sustainable future. He is applying these findings to higher education through development of curricula for a new professional Master's concentration in Leadership for Sustainability. Visit Matt's profile.

Walter serves as an advisor for students in the UVM graduate-level Field Naturalist program and Ecological Planning curriculum and students pursuing a dual degree with Vermont Law School. His research interests encompass landscape natural history and place-based education and ecology. Walter is also the faculty director of UVM's GreenHouse Residential Learning Community. To learn more, visit Walter's profile.

Deane serves as an advisor for students in the UVM graduate-level Field Naturalist program and Ecological Planning curriculum and leads the Ecological Planning curriculum. His research has been on biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling at the ecosystem and landscape levels and more recently on sustainability, conservation, and education. He is currently involved in a research project about climate change, considering the effects of climate change on forest ecosystem development and nutrient cycling. He also advises the LANDS program, a college internship and semester program that focuses on land stewardship. Deane is also developing a low residency master’s program in sustainability. To learn more, visit Deane's profile.